VIEWPOINTS |
Foundation for Flourishing Communities:
Reconciled Diversity and Justice
by Samuel John Shekhar
Acts 6:1-7 In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.” This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Pamenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, convert to Judaism. They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them. So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to faith. 18
Introduction We are human. The basic character of human beings is that we live in communities. This due to the fact that none of us can be completely independent, we are dependent on others to meet our needs. The human life in a community ensures that the needs of all individuals are met. Human beings have multiple and complex needs which involve their emotions, sustenance, family, education and so on. However, communities may not always be organised or be governed for the proper benefit of people. We know how ruling elites or aristocrats could oppress the masses or the government can extort tax. We know how in the history of wars people of defeated nations were reduced to slavery or deported to captivity. Israelites also experienced this unpleasant episode in their history when they were conquered by Sennacherib in 722 BCE and Nebuchadnezzar in 596 BCE. In exile the Israelites lived as a subservient community to the Assyrians and later to the Babylonians. Lamentations express the fact that the community of Israelites in Babylon could not flourish. “After affliction and harsh labour, Judah has gone into exile, She dwells among the nations; She finds no resting place”
INSiGHT | August 2020
Given this background let us examine the attempt by the Apostles of the Lord Jesus in the New Testament times to forge a flourishing community. Did they succeed in their endeavour?
The Neonate Christian Community The text for our consideration is taken from the Acts of the Apostles Chapter Six. The neonate community of Christians attempted to forge a common life where the needs of all people would be met particularly the widows among them. They were to be a sharing and caring community. It is evident from the record that the widows had to be fed from a common kitchen. Although this community was new and socially heterogeneous they sincerely aimed to help all members of their community to flourish. It is an accepted fact that a community is a social unit and have something in common, such as norms, ethnicity, values, identity or religion. This neonate community also had a common lineage. It was Jewish in origin and faith in Jewish God and participated in the temple worship. This community which had two distinct social strands i.e., Hebrews and Hellenic Jews.
